(Reuters) – Police in Moscow have arrested Italian national Giovanni Di Massa, a senior manager at the Italian energy company ISS International, on suspicion of possessing drugs, the TASS news agency quoted law enforcement as saying on Tuesday.
Italy’s ANSA news agency reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Di Massa had been released on probation and was awaiting trial.
An official said Di Massa’s taxi had been stopped in central Moscow.
“A roll of drugs was found on the foreigner, who was noticeably nervous,” the official added, according to TASS. “Analysis showed that it was more than 1 gram (0.04 oz) of mephedrone.”
Mephedrone is a powerful stimulant often compared to drugs like cocaine and ecstasy.
Reuters was not immediately able to reach Di Massa for comment. ISS International did not immediately respond.
TASS said a criminal case had been opened and that Di Massa could face up to three years in prison if found guilty.
(Reporting by Alexander Marrow and Federico Maccioni; Editing by Kevin Liffey, William Maclean)
